Jimbo Fisher talks about his team on Tuesday, the day after his Seminoles won the national title. / Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

by Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports

by Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports

NEWPORT BEACH, Fla. - Roughly 12 hours after he had gone back to his hotel room to celebrate Florida State's first national title since 1999, head coach Jimbo Fisher fired a warning shot for the rest of college football.

"This is an extremely young football team," Fisher said Tuesday. "Got a couple guys that possibly could leave (early). But those guys are having a good time here, and we have some great young players coming in behind those guys. So I think this team will look very, very similar to the one you just saw."

After a prolonged period of relative mediocrity that spanned Bobby Bowden's last nine years and Fisher's first two, Florida State is now primed for another long run at the top.

Though the championship may have come earlier than expected, it was no secret Fisher had been stockpiling talent since taking over after the 2009 season. His first full recruiting class included several key players on this year's defense - linebacker Christian Jones, safety Terrence Brooks cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and linebacker Telvin Smith among them - and the Seminoles' recruiting has only gotten better since.

What few people outside the program knew was that Florida State's roster was in good enough shape to withstand losing 11 players to the NFL draft after last season and come back even stronger.

That the Seminoles could win it all essentially a year ahead of schedule - remember, they were picked 12th in the USA TODAY preseason coaches poll and second in the Atlantic Coast Conference - indicates this was not a one-year blip.

Florida State is most likely here to stay.

"To me, it just solidifies what we're building in Tallahassee," Fisher said. "Like I say, we're not interested in being a great team, we're interested in being a great program, and we want to be around for a long time. We've got to continue."

Though there are all kinds of variables that can derail a championship run, Florida State appears to be set up well to repeat in 2014 and should open the season ranked No. 1.

Quarterback Jameis Winston, of course, will return to defend his Heisman Trophy and should benefit from another year of work on his speed and mechanics. And though he will lose Rimington Trophy-winning center Bryan Stork and receiver Kenny Shaw, who had 54 catches, the offense should largely return in tact.

Even if there are a couple early NFL departures - running back James Wilder and receiver Kelvin Benjamin seem likely to make the jump - there will be plenty of talent around Winston to be elite once again in 2014.

Florida State will have to do a little more rebuilding on defense, losing four highly productive senior starters and likely junior nose guard Timmy Jernigan, who projects as a first-round draft pick. But young players like safety Jalen Ramsey, cornerback Ronald Darby and defensive end Mario Edwards all played like stars in their own right at times this season and will mesh next season with the next wave of highly-regarded prospects.

Fisher understands, however, that sustaining this run won't be just about talent but motivating players to live up to massive expectations.

It's a similar situation to what Alabama encountered coming off the national title in 2009 and returning a significant chunk of talent, only to tumble from preseason No. 1 and finish 10-3. Many still consider that group Nick Saban's most gifted team, but it didn't have the same edge coming back as defending champions.

"That's the thing - once expectations get so high, is to not let complacency set in," Fisher said. "It's human nature. You take winning for granted. You take success for granted and how hard it is to grind and win football games. You can't lose that edge. If you ever lose that edge, that chip on your shoulder, you're just another team."